After taking a detour to the roads for the Virgin London Marathon, Mo Farah, the world’s greatest long distance track runner, returned to the track Sunday night in the 5000m at the Portland Track Festival and the result was a scorching last lap (we had Mo unofficially in 52.6 (25.5 from 4600-4800 for Mo, 27.1 the final 200m)) and easy victory in 13:23.42.

“It’s a different feeling. I’ve been away so long. It was good to be back on the track. I’m glad I started off with a low key race,” Mo said.

The RaceThe Portland Track Classic takes placed in an intimate setting at Lewis and Clark College. In addition to the fans in the stands, there were fans and athletes standing on the infield cheering on the runners. Galen Rupp was on hand to watch his training partner from the infield. Matt Centrowitz, Alan Webb, Will Leer,Chris Solinsky, and Vin Lananna were all on the infield as well.

Make no doubt about it, the star of the night was Mo Farah and the buzz increased when he took the track.

Mo Farah swarmed for autographs after the meet

The first 1600 was covered in 4:22.2 and Mo hung behind Aussie David McNeil who was racing the race, and serving as a de facto rabbit. Just before the half way point, Farah took over the lead, but he did not do anything drastic to the pace. 3200 was reached in 8:41.6. Over the final mile there was a pack of five contending of the win, Farah and McNeill, and Aron Rono of WCAP, and Joe Stilin and Tyler Pennel of Zap fitness. Farah gave up the lead to Pennel during the final mile, but was always right on the lead. A 64 second penultimate lap made it a two man race between Farah and former NCAA champ McNeil.

Farah pounced at the bell. He hit the afterburners and flew around the turn. The race was immediately over. Farah covered the next 200 in 25.5 on our watch. Farah kept sprinting around the final bend, not being content to just win. He was pouring it on in impressive faction. He slowed a little to 27.1 the next 200m to get the win in 13:23.42. McNeil was a clear second in 13:28.13 and Rono third in 13:35.80.

The night was Farah’s. Young fans surrounding him on the infield, having him sign whatever they could including their shirts. Farah was gracious as he signed for the fans. However, his night was not over as after a brief chat with the media, Mo still had a post-race workout to do.

Mo Farah Talks About Galen Rupp and the 10,000m World Record

After the race, Mo said he was not worried about how he would do in his track return as his workouts had gone well. He did not sound like a man who would return to the marathon soon, saying, “The marathon is completely different. In life you have to try as many things as you can.”

Up next for Mo is a 5000 at the Diamond League meet in Glasgow on July 12th, then a possible 5000-10,000 double at the Commonwealth Games (the 5k is first).

Without a major championship this year, Mo was asked if he would like to have a world record. He turned his attention to the 10,000 m world record and said he felt that one was more attainable . “It would be nice to get closer to the world record. Probably the one closest really, not too far away is probably the 10k, having seen Galen and what he can do. (He ran a) hell of a race (when he ran 26:44.36), he ran so well to go that fast and it gives you another belief that if we can work together maybe one day we can get closer to it.”

Then Mo was asked if he and Galen might target the record this year and Mo talked about Galen, “It depends. I definitely think Galen can go close, a lot faster than what he has run just with having rabbits all the way.”

Full interview with Farah below and then results. (A big thanks to LRC poster nikeman for the video below. Wejo’s battery died right as Farah started talking)

Andrew Wheating Wins and Says He’s Back In the men’s 1500m, Andrew Wheating also returned to the track for the first time in 2014 and got an impressive victory in 3:38.53 with a strong final 100m. Wheating had run aggressively early on with the rabbit, then let the field catch up to him by the bell, and then blasted the final 100m once challenged by Kentucky’s Matt Hellenbrand. Perhaps more importantly afterwards an exuberant Wheating said, “I’m back, baby. I’ve been waiting three freaking years to say that. I’ve been running too many races unsure of myself and unconfident. Rowland has transformed me into a monster and I can not wait to see what becomes of it.” Wheating went on to say how the American record may not be out of reach for him even though he only ran 3:38 today.

Jordan Hasay Closes Well to Win 1500 Jordan Hasay ran a strong final 300m to win the 1500m over Angela Bizarri. This race went out in 65.8, then slowed to 68.3, (2:14.1) and was 3:06.7 at the bell. Hasay hit the afterburners with 300m to go, and showed a strong finish for the first time this year, which was what she wanted to work on. She is aware she has a long way to go with finishing speed noting that Aregawi closes in 57 seconds. Up next is the 10,000m at Nationals. However, before that Jordan had to run the 5000m as a workout (see that next).

Jordan Hasay Doubles Back and Wins 5000 With Faster Close Than in 1500

Jordan did more than just get in a workout in the women’s 5000m, she got the win with a faster last lap than in her 1500m. This one went out in 5:00, 12:37 for 4000, and at the bell Hasay led but former Oregon teammate Alexi Pappas was in contention a meter behind Jordan. It was no contest the final lap as Jordran ran 63.6 for the win in a new pb of 15:28.56 (previous pb of 15:29.63).

Former NCAA 1500 champ Andy Bayer made his steeple debut in impressive fashion getting the win in 8:39.96 and a USATF qualifying time by .04. Bayer actually fell in this race on the second lap going over a hurdle, but his steeple coach Pascal Dobert afterwards said it was a freak steeple fall where Bayer just got clipped by another athlete, not anything that was Bayer’s fault. Bayer was excited to debut with the win and thinks his future is bright with 8:06 and 8:15 training partners Evan Jager and Dan Huling.

Bridget Franek Surprises Self With WinBridget Franek is an Olympian but she surprised herself getting the win over training partner Aisha Praught in the women’s steeple. Franek knows how fit Praught is, so the win was a surprise here for Franek who just wanted to get in a competitive performance before USAs in two weeks. Franek has been getting an MBA at the University of Oregon and it took up more of her time than she thought it would.

Cas Loxsom, the former Penn State star, made a power move on the final turn and held it to the line to get the win over a fast close by Jordan McNamara. Cas wants to make the 800 final at USAs and see what happens. This was the first competitive 800 LRC could find for McNamara.

Yale’s finest, Kate Grace, got the win in the 800 in a tshirt. The Oiselle athlete who relocated to Bend, Oregon this year from coach Gags’ group in New Jersey, had packed up her stuff for the trip to Portland from Bend and is going to Seattle afterwards, but she forgot her racing singlet. The goal was just to get in a competitive effort before USAs as Kate’s last race was the World Relays 4×1500.

Grace and Shannon Leinert of the Oregon Track Club were neck and neck at the finish with Gracy winning by .01. Grace said afterwards she thought Leinert had beaten her.